Oropharyngeal airway

ABSTRACT

An oropharyngeal airway for use during surgery comprises a contoured portion in the shape of the pharyngeal contour, and includes a pair of passageways formed by a pair of curved substantially planar members connected in spaced substantially parallel relation by an internal generally central web portion. The planar members are each provided with a plurality of spaced holes distributed along their contoured portions and providing communication between the outer surfaces of the airway and the passageways to aid in preventing clogging or blockage of the airway due to the accumulation of fluids in the mouth and pharynx.

United States Patent [72] Inventor Victor H. Raimo 214 BallentineParkway, Newark, NJ. I 07104 [21] Appl. No. 765,215 [22] Filed Oct. 4,1968 [45] Patented Mar. 9, 1971 [54] OROPHARYNGEAL AIRWAY 1 Claim, 6Drawing Figs.

[52] U.S.Cl. 128/351, 7 128/208 [51] lnt. Cl. ..A6lm 25190 [50]FieldofSearc 128/351, 208, 240,195, 201, 28,1455

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,599,521 6/1952 Berman128/208 3,013,554 12/l96l Safaretal 3,398,747 8/1968 Raimo PrimaryExaminer-Richard A. Gaudet Assistant Examiner-.1. Yasko Attorney-Cifelliand Behr ABSTRACT: An oropharyngeal airway for use during surgerycomprises a contoured portion in the shape of the pharyngeal contour,and includes a pair of passageways formed by a pair of curvedsubstantially planar members connected in spaced substantially parallelrelation by an internal generally central web portion. The planarmembers are each provided with a plurality of spaced holes distributedalong their contoured portions and providing communication between theouter surfaces of the airway and the passageways to aid in preventingclogging or blockage of the airway due to the accumulation of fluids inthe mouth and pharynx.

PATENTED MR 9 |97l FIG.I

INVENTOR VIC TOR H.RAIMO WQL ATTORNE OROPHARYNGEAL AmWAY OF THEINVENTION This invention relates to oropharyngeal airways for use duringsurgery and in the recovery room to insure adequate breathing of apatient under anesthesia. oropharyngeal airways for use during surgeryare well known as evidenced by US. Pat. Nos. 2,599,521 and 2,705,959.

Oropharyngeal airways of the type having a contoured portion in theshape of the pharyngeal contour have long been used in the art. Thecontoured portion of such airways may comprise a pair of passagewaysformed by a pair of curved but substantially planar members connected inspaced substantially parallel relation by an internal generally centralweb portion. Though airways of this type have been used successfully,problems have been encountered where they have been partially orcompletely blocked due to the accumulation of fluids in the mouth andpharynx SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention provides an improvedairway of the type described by providing a plurality of spaced holesdistributed along the contoured portion of at least one of the planarembers which connect an outer surface of the airway to at least onepassageway to provide means for the egress of fluid or lodged particlesand thus to prevent or alleviate clogging or blockage of the airway. Theholes are distributed in spaced relation along at least one longitudinalside of one of the planar members; the longitudinal sides of the memberbeing defined by the connection of the member with the internal webportion. Preferably, bolt longitudinal sides of each planar member areprovided with holes spaced along their contoured portions and each holein one of the members is coaxially disposed with respect to a hole inthe other member.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a plan view of a firstembodiment of an oropharyngeal airway in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 is a front elevational view of the airway of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the airway of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a front elevational view of a second embodiment of anoropharyngeal airway in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 5 is a side elevational view of the embodiment of FIG. 4 partiallybroken away to more clearly illustrate the holes formed in the spacedplanar members; and,

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of a portion of a third embodiment ofan oropharyngeal airway in accordance with the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3,there is shown an oropharyngeal airway 10in accordance with theinvention. Oropharyngeal airways for use during surgery and recoverytherefrom, such as the airway it), are inserted in an anesthetizedpatients mouth and pharynx to provide passageways through which air mayenter and be expelled.

The airway It) comprises a lip-engaging or flanged end portion l2, anintermediate or bite portion 14, and an elongated body portion 16 in thegeneral shape of the normal pharyngeal contour. The airway is of a sizeand length such that with the flanged end portion 12 placed with theinner surface 13 thereof abutting a patients lips the extremity 26 ofthe body portion 116 will extend into the patients pharynx. Appropriatesizes and configurations may be provided, for example for use by adults,children and infants. The foregoing features and characteristics are allwell known in the art and a further discussion thereof is not deemednecessary to a clear understanding of the present invention.

It is also well known in the art that airways must be made of a materialor materials which are not brittle or toxic and that the bite portionsmust have sufficient strength to withstand substantial biting pressurewithout occlusion of the passageways. The structural strength of thebite portion may, for example, be provided by the use of a sturdyinternal central web portion such as the generally central internal webportion 22 of the airway 10. Satisfactory constructions and materialsfor attaining the foregoing characteristics are also well known in theart and elaboration thereof for the purposes of the present invention isnot deemed necessary, although it is noted in passing that airways madeof polyethylene have been found to be particularly desirable.

Airway l0 comprises an upper substantially planar member 24 and a lowersubstantially planar member 26 joined in substantially parallel spacedrelation by the web portion 22. The planar members 24 and 26 aresubstantially flat throughout the bite portion 14 and are curved toconform to the normal pharyngeal contour throughout the body portion 16.It will be noted that the sides of the airway between the upper andlower planar members are open.

The web portion 22 has a plurality of apertures 28 therethrough whichfacilitate drainage and aid in preventing clogging of the airway asiswell known in the art. The

' passageways or channels formed by the cooperation of the members 24and 26 and the web portion 22 communicate with an opening 30 in theflanged end portion 12 permitting air to enter the pharynx and beexpelled.

The present invention resides in the provision of a plurality of holesdesignated 32, 34, 36 and 38 which extend through the planar members 24and 26, respectively, and lead from the outer surfaces of the airway tothe passageways. Each group of holes 32, 34, 36 an 28 is disposed on onelongitudinal side of its respective planar member with respect to thejuncture of the member with the web portion 22. Also, each group ofholes is distributed in spaced relation along substantially the entirebody portion 16. Further, each hole 32 is preferably positioned incoaxial relation with one of the holes 36 and vice versa, and each hole34 is preferably positioned in coaxial relation with one of the holes 38and vice versa. Finally, the holes 32 and 36 on one side of the webportion 22 are positioned in staggered relation with respect to theholes 34 and 38 on the other side of the web portion 22, although asseen in FIG. 6, these holes may also be in side-by-side relationship.

Although four groups of holes are provided in the airway 10, it will beappreciated that the benefits of the invention, to varying degrees, canbe obtained by using only one, two or three of the groups of holes 32,34, 36 and 38. The holes provide means through which fluid may beexpelled from the passageways due to the pressure of air passing throughthe passageways. Thus, the holes function to prevent or alleviateclogging of the passageways due to the portion of the accumulation offluids in the mouth and/or pharynx which enter the passageways via theopen sides of the airway.

An oropharyngeal 40 in accordance with a second embodiment of theinvention is shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. The airway 40 is similar in allrespects to the airway 10 except for the construction of the generallycentral internal web portion 42. It will be noted that the generallycentral web portion 22 of the first embodiment is disposed at an anglewith respect to the planar surfaces of the members 24 and 26.

The web portion 42 is disposed perpendicularly to the planar surfaces ofthe planar members 44 and 46 of the airway 40. The web portion 42further differs from the web portion 22 in that the web portion 42 issolid providing two distinct and separate passageways through the airway40 which communicate with the central opening 48 of the flanged endportion 50 of the airway 40.

A cross-sectional view of the contoured portion of an oropharyngealairway 52 in accordance with a third embodi ment of the invention isshown in FIG. 6. The contoured portion is formed by substantially planarmembers 54 nd 56 joined by a generally central internal web portion 53.This embodiment differs from the first and second embodiments in thatthe coaxially disposed holes 63 and 62 (only one of each being shown) onone'sicle of the central web portion 58 are positioned in side by siderelation with respect to the coaxially disposed holes 64 and 66 (onlyone of each being shown) on the other side of the central web portion58.

While the principles of the invention have been described in connectionwith specific embodiments, it will be understood that this descriptionis only by way of example and not intended as a limitation to the scopeof the invention.

I claim:

1. In an oropharyngeal airway for surgical use having a contouredportion in the shape of the pharyngeal contour, said contour portionincluding a pair of longitudinal passageways formed by a pair of curvedsubstantially planar members connected in spaced substantially parallelrelation by an internal generally central web portion and having atleast one aperture adjacent the inner end of the airway to providecommunication with the patients pharynx, the improvement whichcomprises: a plurality of apertures in at least one of said planarmembers, said apertures being distributed in spaced relation alongsubstantially the entire length of the contoured portion thereof, saidapertures providing communication between the outer surfaces of theairway and said longitudinal passageways to aid in preventing cloggingof the airway and suffocation of a patient in use due to theaccumulation of fluids in the patients mouth and pharynx subsequent tosurgery.

1. In an oropharyngeal airway for surgical use having a contouredportion in the shape of the pharyngeal contour, said contour portionincluding a pair of longitudinal passageways formed by a pair of curvedsubstantially planar members connected in spaced substantially parallelrelation by an internal generally central web portion and having atleast one aperture adjacent the inner end of the airway to providecommunication with the patient''s pharynx, the improvement whichcomprises: a plurality of apertures in at least one of said planarmembers, said apertures being distributed in spaced relation alongsubstantially the entire length of the contoured portion thereof, saidapertures providing communication between the outer surfaces of theairway and said longitudinal passageways to aid in preventing cloggingof the airway and suffocation of a patient in use due to theaccumulation of fluids in the patient''s mouth and pharynx subsequent tosurgery.